Agriculture

ARTICLES ABOUT AGRICULTURE BY DATE - PAGE 3

BROOKINGS, S.D. - South Dakota State University Colleges of Agriculture and Biological Sciences and Education and Human Sciences will recognize four individuals with the Eminent Farmer/Rancher and Eminent Homemaker Honor during a banquet September 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center, Brookings. Tickets are $20 and are available from the Office of the Dean of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Ag Hall 131, SDSU Brookings, S.D., 57007 or by calling, 605-688-4148.

Headlines like these make me shudder and break my heart: "Golden Rice trial vandalized in Philippines. " I don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will. Golden Rice is a genetically modified rice that has been developed during the last 20 years. Through the use of careful science, they have been able to develop a rice that produces beta-carotene, which people convert into vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency affects millions in the developing world, causing blindness and making people susceptible to other diseases.

PIERRE - The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) announces a Bridge Loan program available for Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved applicants. The department has always worked closely with FSA, but the new SDDA Bridge Loan program is great collaboration between both entities to ensure our producers can continue with an agricultural real estate purchase when funds may not be readily available at FSA, says S.D. Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch. We have also heard from many bankers who think this is a great tool for them to utilize when the opportunity is right and the bank itself may not be interested in a bridge loan. The Bridge Loan program is designed to provide interim financing for FSA applicants approved for loans to purchase land when FSA funding is not available at the time the applicant wants to proceed in closing the land purchase.

South Dakota continues to be an agricultural powerhouse placing in the top 10 nationally for numerous commodities, according to recently released USDA agricultural statistics. South Dakota leads the nation in bison production and is second in honey, millet, sunflower and flaxseed production. The state ranked in the top 10 in the nation for corn (6), wheat (6) and soybeans (9). Not only did South Dakota produce a lot of grain, but it also had top 10 rankings in beef cows (5)

SIOUX FALLS - Preliminary prices received by farmers for winter wheat in July averaged $6.93, down 29 cents from last month according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. The preliminary July spring wheat price, at $7.23, was down 79 cents from last month. The preliminary July oats price, at $3.81, was down 39 cents from last month. The preliminary July corn price, at $6.57, was down 23 cents from last month. The preliminary July soybean price, at $14.90, was up 20 cents from last month.

A report released this week by the White House economic team shows the benefits of commonsense immigration reform for rural America. Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate passed a commonsense immigration reform measure in a strongly bipartisan fashion. The Senate plan provides a pathway to earned citizenship for those who are in our country without authorization. They will have to go to the back of the line, pay fines and settle taxes they owe our nation. It would also put in place the toughest border security plan that America has ever seen.

CRYSTAL, N.D. - After 134 years of farming here, the O'Toole family has gone through its share of generational transitions. Another is under way now. Fourth-generation farmer Brian O'Toole has been joined by sons, Casey and Kelly, and son-in-law, Frank Olimb. "I must be a pretty good salesman. I recruited them all back to the farm," says O'Toole, 54, with a smile. Then, turning serious, he adds, "No, it was entirely their own decision. With farming, it needs to be. If your heart isn't in it, stay away from it. " What's occurring on the O'Toole farm is increasingly common in Upper Midwest agriculture.

Justin, Texas - In a July 2013 article published on Farm Journal's affiliated agweb.com website, staff editor Ben Potter highlights the importance of continuous soil quality maintenance in long-term agricultural productivity. Soil quality is the capacity at which the soil can support human health, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and, most importantly to farmers, sustain the productivity of crop yields. It is vital to maximizing profits through sustainable productivity. At its foundation, soil quality relies on the existing microbial populations that are present.